Tales of the World: Tactics Union (Japanese: テイルズ オブ ザ ワールド タクティクス ユニオン, Hepburn: Teiruzu Obu Za Warudo: Takutikusu Yunion) is a tactical role-playing game released for Android mobile devices by Bandai Namco Games.[4][5] It is a spinoff of the Tales series of video games. It was released on July 2, 2012 in Japan, with no announcement towards release in English speaking regions.[6] In January 2013, the game was ported to the iOS platform, and in October 2014, a 3DS version entitled Tales of the World: Reve Unitia was released as well.[2][7]
Gameplay
The game plays in the same vein as most tactical role-playing games, such as Final Fantasy Tactics, where the player moves a party of characters across a grid to fight an opposing party.[8] The game is controlled entirely through touch screen input.[9] Prior to starting a battle, characters are customized with different equipment and skills, the latter of which consume "mystic point" when used in battle, but replenish over time.[8]
As battles progress, different characters develop "favorability ratings" for other characters, which can either lead to status bonuses, characters attacking together when near one another, or revealing special conversations.[8]
The game was formally announced by Bandai Namco Games in May 2012, for release on July 2, 2012 release.[10] While being announced as a free-to-play game, it supports in-game purchases for things such as equipment or moves,[5] and requires a paid monthly subscription to the KDDI’s Smartpass program.[6]Downloadable content was made available in the weeks after the game's initial release, including an extra level, "Trembling Grove", and additional characters from Tales of Innocence and Tales of Vesperia.[11]
The game was developed to be simple, for casual players not familiar with games of the genre.[9]
